Improvement in harvesters



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v MQ @anni CYRENUS WHEELER, JR., OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 84,151, :lated November 17, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

A'.|.'l:le Schedule referred to in these I fettera Patent and making part'of the same.

To all whom. 'it may concern.:

Be it known that I, Crnnxns WnnELnn, Jr., ofthe city of Auburn, county of (layuga, and State of New York, have invented ce1-tan new and useful Improve-r ments in Harvesters; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oft-he same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in whichn Figure l is a perspective dew of the machine;

Figure 2 is a view of the main frame, tongue-framc, and axle; and

Figure 3, a view ofthe front edge of linger-bar and platform-connections, with sections of the inner and outer shoes.

Similar letters of referenre indicate like parts ofthe machine wherever they appear in the different figures.

The machine is constructed with three trames, viz, a main frame, a tongue-frame, and a crank-frame, so arranged and combined with each other as .to admitnf all the required adjustments for both reaping grain and mowing grass.

The invention consists in constructing the main frame with a hollow cylindrical projection on one side, for holding the box of the bevel-wheel shaft, and to serve as a hinge or pivotfor connecting the tongue and crank-frames, and having an axle for the d1iving-wheel, on the other side, that is adjustable, so as to be set at different heights on the main frame, in the arc of al circle, of which the bevel-wheel shaftis the centre, and in devices for locking the tongue and crank-frames to the main frame when adjusted at diii'erent heights.

And it further consists in so applying the platform, and uniting it with the finger-bar, as to overcome its tendency to sag or bend when raised for reaping.

ln the drawings, A represents the driving-wheel, Aand B the main frame, which has a hollow cylindrical arm or projection, C, in which is inserted the pipe-box D, which carries the bevel-wheel shaft E.

To the rear part of the main frame, on its other-side, is bolted the axle F, on which the driving-wheel is mounted. This axle can be fastened at different heights onthe frame, by a series of holes, arranged in the arc of a circle, of which the bevel-wheel shaft E is the centre, or by means of a curved slot, G, similarly arranged, as shown in the drawings.

By this arrangement, the frame can be sustained at dierent heights above the ground, and the drivingwheel will preserve at alltimes the proper relation to the bevel-Wheel shaft, so that the gear-rim, which may be fastened to the inner web of it, will gear properly with a pinion which may be placed on the projecting end of the bevel-wheel shaft.

The axle is held at the desired point of adjustment on the main 'ame by means of a through-bolt and nuts, securing a hollow axle-sleeve, or by a screw formed on the end of the axle, passing through the frame.

To the projecting cylindrical arm of the main frame is hinged the tongue-frame H, which can he fastened in any desired position bythe clamping-boltl, which works in a slot, J, formed in the front end ofthe main frame, or a series of holes, arranged concentric to the bevel-wheel shaft, will serve the same purpose.

The crank-trame K, which carries the cutting-apparatus, also hinges upon the mainframe, at the san le ,point with the tongue-trame, and is free to move on the cylindrical part- C, as on a hinge, except .when restrained bythe set-bolt L in the hook M. This hook is fastened to the frame l, and has a groove, for enibracing the rear of the main ii'anic B, which is a sector in forni, and has a series of notches or recesses formed in it, for receiving the cnd ofthe set-bolt L.

The linger-bar O is bolted to the shoe P of th( main frame, at its inner cud, and it has a shoe, Q, fastened to its outer cnd.

lWhen arranged for mowing, the axle F is fastened ucar the highest point on the main frame B, and the cranltefraine, Kis permitted tf1-move. unrestrained by. the main frame, so that it is free to follow the surface of the ground, thus permitting the cutting-apparatus to rise and fall, to conform to the undulations and inequalities thereof.

The cutters can, by means of the clamping-bolt l, be set at any angle the condition of the crop or the natiu'e ofthe ground may require.

The platform lt has on its front edge a stiffening-bar, S, which is fastened `to the finger-bar by two metallic straps, T and U, which bolt to theunder side of the nger-bar by bolts a and b, and at its outer end it is fastened to the table-plate V, which is unitedto the outer shoe Q by an ear inserted in the jaws of the shoe', and fastened by a bolt through both. The inner end of the bar S is fastened to the shoe P by a plate, W, and bolts c and (l.

The strap U, to which the nger-bar 0 is bolted, is raised above the plane of the strap T, and the flange e, which holds the 'other end of the stiiening-bar S, and is so arranged as to support the outer end of the finger-bar O in the saine plane as the strap T at its inner end.

By this arrangement, the finger-bar O, when bolted to the platform, is crowned or curved upwards in the middle. This should be something more than the sagging or bending downward of the platform in the middle, when supported by the table-wheel at its outer end, and the drivin g-wheel at the other end, and this will be determined by the length of finger-bar, and the kind of materials used.

When properly arranged, and in use, the finger-'bar willuassume nearly a straight line, and all cramping and binding of cutters will be avoided. Thus it will be seen that the injurious effects of the platforms sagging or bending, when used in reaping, is counteracted by forming the bed, by which the nger-bar is united to the platform, of arched or convex form, sufficient to compensate for the sag or bend ofthe platform.

The platform R is quadrant-shaped, and is adjusted and supported :tt any desired height by the table-wheel X, :tt its outer end, and by the driving-wheel A, :it its inner end, which, with its mile F, is adjustable :mt dii'- ferent heights on the nuiin innne B. Or the adj ustinent indy be made by raising the crunk-freine K, zuid fastening it, by set-serew L, to the xnnin frzun'e B, at the desired height, :nid adjusting the ongle of the plntforni :und linger-bar by tho l'zlannping-bolt I, which looks the tongue-freine H and 11min frame B together.

It will thus be seen tlutt by the zurzn'lgenient ofthe pants described, amy desired height of eut een be obtained, :n 1d the platform :und finger-bur, :1t the different heights, still retain the smne .ngle of presentation.

The sent for the driver is supported by n. cross-bnr bolted to the tong11e-nn1e, :ind projecting outvzn'ds iin' enough to hold the front end of the seat-bar, which is ihstened, neen' its centre, to n bleee eonneeted with the outer end of the axle F.

Having described my invention, its construction and opera-tion,

W'hzit I eleiin as new, and desire to secure b v-Letm ters Patent, is-

l. mein frame, having a tubular projection on one side, for supporting',r the bevel-Wheel shaft, in combinaother side, sul'istzmtinlly as described.

2. A 11min freine, having it tubular projection on one side, for supporting the bevel-wheel shaft, in combination with an adjustable axle on the other side, for reeeiving the drivin g-wheel, substantially and for the purposes described.

3. In combination with a main frame and an adjustble crank-frame, an :tdiustable axle, as and for the )m1-poses set forth.

4. In combination with a. main frame, nn adjustable ernnlsfrznne, an adjustable tongue-frame, and an adjustztbleaxle, substantially set forth.

5. So uniting the plattform with the linger-bar as to compensate for the sag 'of the platform, or its tendency to spring Aor bend when in use in reaping.

C. WHEELER, JR.

Witnesses:

HORACE T. COOK, GHAs. L. WHEATON, J'r.

tion with :nl :txle for the drivii'ig-wheel, bolted tn the 

